Valve operating system in an internal combustion engine

ABSTRACT

A valve operating system for an internal combustion engine has a rocker arm, a rocker actuation mechanism, a ball and socket joint, and a valve activation device. The rocker arm is connected to the rocker actuation mechanism. The ball and socket joint is connected to the rocker arm and to the valve activation device. The ball and socket joint has a retention device connected to a ball portion and a socket portion. The retention device holds the ball and socket portions together. The retention device is positioned in an external groove formed by the socket portion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to valve operating systems in internalcombustion engines. More particularly, this invention relates to a valveoperating system having a rocker arm connected to a ball and socketjoint for operating a cylinder valve in an internal combustion engine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Internal combustion engines convert chemical energy from a fuel intomechanical energy. The fuel may be petroleum-based (gasoline or diesel),natural gas, another combustible material, or a combination thereof.Most internal combustion engines mix the fuel with air and then injectthe air-fuel mixture into one or more cylinders formed by a crankcase,cylinder head, and piston. The internal combustion engine may use acamshaft system, a hydraulically activated electronically controlledunit injection (HEUI) system, or the like to control the injection ofthe air-fuel mixture into the cylinders. In each cylinder, the fuelignites to generate rapidly expanding gases that actuate the piston. Thefuel may be ignited by compression such as in a diesel engine or throughsome type of spark such as the spark plug in a gasoline engine. Thepiston usually is connected to a crankshaft or similar device forconverting the reciprocating motion of the piston into rotationalmotion. The crankshaft also causes the piston to push the exhaust gasesout of the cylinder during a return stroke, thus preparing the cylinderto receive more of the air-fuel mixture. The rotational motion from thecrankshaft may be used to propel a vehicle, operate a pump or anelectrical generator, or perform other work. The vehicle may be a truck,automobile, boat, or the like.

Most internal combustion engines have one or more exhaust valvesconnected to each cylinder. The exhaust valves typically open at theappropriate time to permit the exhaust gases to exit the cylinder. Manyinternal combustion engines have one or more inlet valves connected toeach cylinder. The inlet valves typically open at the appropriate timeto permit the air-fuel mixture to enter the cylinder.

Many internal combustion engines have a rocker arm assembly foroperating the exhaust and inlet valves. The rocker arm assemblytypically has separate rocker arms for each cylinder. Usually, there isone rocker arm for operating the exhaust valve(s) and another rocker armfor operating the inlet valve(s). The midsection of each rocker armusually is mounted on the cylinder head of the internal combustionengine in such a way that the ends of the rocker arm articulate inopposite directions similar to a see-saw motion. One end of the rockerarm usually is connected to a push rod and/or camshaft mechanism. Theother end of the rocker arm usually is connected to a valve activationdevice. During engine operation, the push rod moves or pushes one end ofthe rocker arm up thus causing the other end of the rocker arm to moveor push down against the valve activation device. The valve activationdevice typically has a spring that biases the valve into a closedposition. The pressure from the rocker arm causes the valve activationdevice to open the valve. When the push rod moves or pulls the end ofthe rocker arm down, the other end of the rocker arm to moves up or awayfrom the valve activation device. Without the pressure of the rockerarm, the valve activation device closes the valve. When there aremultiple valves, the rocker arm may connect to a valve bridge that isconnected to the valve activation devices for each valve. The pressurefrom the rocker arm causes the valve bridge to press against theconnected valve activation devices, thus opening the connected valves atsubstantially the same time. The rotational motion of the rocker armagainst the valve activation device may cause wear of the components incontact. The rotational movement also may cause the rocker arm to slipwhere it contacts the valve activation- device. This wear and slippagemay affect engine operation, maintenance, and durability.

To reduce potential wear and slippage, many internal combustion enginesuse a rocker arm having a concave circular surface at the contact pointwith the valve activation device. Some internal combustion engines havea valve activation device with a convex circular surface. This convexcircular surface may be configured to receive the concave circularsurface of the rocker arm and thus form a ball and socket or similartype of connection. In addition, the contact point between the rockerarm and the valve or the valve bridge also may be lubricated.

In some internal combustion engines, the rocker arm and valve activationdevice are connected by a separate ball and socket joint. The balltypically has a pin extension on the opposite side of a concave circularsurface. The pin extension has a conical or cylindrical shape and isinserted into a hole formed in the end of the rocker arm. The socket hasa convex surface on one side of that forms a cavity. The socket connectsto the valve activation device on the side opposite the convex surface.When assembled, the ball is positioned inside the cavity of the socketso that the concave surface of the ball is adjacent to the convexsurface of the socket. The ball and socket usually are held together bya retention mechanism such as a spring or a wire.

The ball and socket joint may be held together by a spring mounted oneither side of radial flanges formed by the ball and socket. The ballmay have a radial flange formed between the pin extension and theconcave circular surface. The socket may have a radial flange formedalong the entrance to the cavity. The spring typically is positioned onthe sides of the flanges that are opposite to the concave and convexsurfaces. The spring biases or presses the ball and socket together. Thespring may increase the material and assembly costs of the ball andsocket joint. The spring also may interfere with operation of the valvesin the internal combustion engine. If the spring tension is too tight,the ball may not rotate as freely in the socket as desired for operationof the valves. If the spring tension is too loose, the spring may resistor oppose the movement of the rocker arm by the push pin. If the springlooses its resiliency or becomes stretched, it may extend into or beyondthe interface between the flat surface of the socket and the valve orthe valve bridge.

The ball and socket joint also may be held together by an O-ringpositioned on the inside surface of the cavity formed by the socket. TheO-ring usually is a wire positioned in a radial groove on the insidesurface of the cavity. When the ball is inside the cavity, the O-ring isbetween the ball and the entrance to the cavity. The O-ring may increasethe material and assembly costs of the ball and socket joint. The socketmay have a deeper cavity to accommodate the inside groove and O-ring. Ifthe ball is inserted into the socket after the O-ring is inserted intothe inside groove, the ball may have to be forcibly inserted into thesocket. This forcible insertion may damage the O-ring and the ball. Ifthe O-ring is inserted into the groove after the ball is inserted intothe socket, the socket may have an even deeper cavity so the O-ring canbe positioned in the inside groove with less interference from ball. TheO-ring also may obstruct the rotational movement of the ball in thesocket. The O-ring may block the movement of the concave surface whenthe ball rotates. The pin extension may strike the side of a cavity.

The ball and socket joint additionally may be held together by a metalor plastic ring that encompasses both parts. The ring may interfere withthe rotational motion of the ball in the socket. The ring may becomeloose and interfere with the interface between the socket and the valveactivation devices. The ring also may reduce or block lubrication fluidfrom reaching the ball and socket joint.

The ball and socket joint further may be held together by a foldedradial edge or lip along the inside of the entrance to the cavity in thesocket. If the ball is inserted into the socket after the radial edge isfolded, the ball may have to be forcibly inserted into the socket. Theforcible insertion may damage the radial edge and the ball. The radialedge may obstruct the rotational movement of the ball in the socket. Theradial edge may block the movement of the concave surface when the ballrotates. The pin extension may strike the radial edge

SUMMARY

This invention provides a valve operating system for an internalcombustion engine. The valve operating system has a ball and socketjoint with a retention device positioned in an external groove on theball and socket joint. The retention device holds the ball and socketjoint together.

A valve operating system for an internal combustion engine may have arocker arm, a rocker actuation mechanism, a ball and socket joint, and avalve activation device. The rocker arm is connected to the rockeractuation mechanism and to the ball and socket joint. The ball andsocket joint has a retention device connected to a ball portion and asocket portion. The retention device is positioned in an external grooveformed by the socket portion. The ball portion is connected to therocker arm. The valve activation device is connected to the socketportion.

A ball and socket joint for a valve operating system in an internalcombustion engine may have a ball portion, a socket portion, and aretention device. The ball portion has a flange between a pin extensionand an interface surface. The socket portion has a foot extension andforms a cavity with an interior surface. The socket portion forms anexterior groove between the foot extension and an entrance to thecavity. The retention device has a pin segment connected to a footsegment. The pin segment forms a pin loop. The foot segment forms a footloop. The interface surface of the ball portion is positioned adjacentto the interior surface in the cavity of the socket portion. The pinextension is disposed in the pin loop. The pin segment is adjacent tothe flange. The socket portion is disposed in the foot loop. The footsegment is positioned in the external groove.

An internal combustion engine with a valve operating system may have acylinder head mounted on a crankcase, a valve, a rocker arm, a rockeractuation mechanism, a ball and socket joint, and a valve activationdevice. The cylinder head and the crankcase form a cylinder. Thecylinder head forms a valve path connected to the cylinder. The valve isdisposed within the valve path. The rocker arm is mounted on thecylinder head. The rocker actuation mechanism is connected to the rockerarm. The ball and socket joint has a retention device connected to aball portion and a socket portion. The retention device is positioned inan external groove formed by the socket portion. The ball portion isconnected to the rocker arm. The valve activation device is connected tothe socket portion. The valve activation device is connected to thevalve.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention willbe, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art uponexamination of the following figures and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, features andadvantages be included within this description, be within the scope ofthe invention, and be protected by the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings and description. The components in the figures are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, likereferenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section view of a valve operating system inan internal combustion engine.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a ball and socket joint for a valve operatingsystem.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the ball and socket joint shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the ball and socket joint shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the ball and socket joint shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an expanded front view of the ball and socket joint shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a back view of the retention device shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side view of another ball and socket joint for a valveoperating system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section view of a valve operating system 102in an internal combustion engine. The valve operating system 102 mayhave a rocker actuation mechanism 104, a rocker arm 106 mounted on abase 108, a ball and socket joint 110, and a valve activation device112. The rocker actuation mechanism 104 is connected to one end of therocker arm 106. The rocker actuation mechanism 104 may be a camshaft, apushrod connected to a camshaft, or the like. The ball and socket joint104 is connected to the other end of the rocker arm 106 and to the valveactivation device 112. The ball and socket joint 110 has an exteriorindentation or groove for holding a retention device. The ball andsocket joint 110 may have a portion configured for insertion into a holeformed by the rocker arm 106. The base 108 of the valve operating system102 may be connected to a cylinder head 120 or other component of theinternal combustion engine. The cylinder head 120 is mounted on acrankcase 122, which forms a cylinder 128. The cylinder 128 has a piston130 disposed therein. The cylinder 128 also has a valve 124 disposedwithin a valve path 132 formed by the cylinder head 122. The valve 124may be an inlet valve for allowing an air-fuel mixture to enter thecylinder 128. The valve 124 may be an exhaust valve for allowing exhaustgases to exit the cylinder 128. The valve 124 is connected to the valveactivation device 112 that opens and closes the valve 124. When nopressure is applied, the valve activation device 112 may bias orotherwise maintain the valve in a closed position. When pressure isapplied, the valve activation device 112 may move the valve into anopened position. The valve activation device 112 may include a valvebridge for connecting the ball and socket joint 110 to multiple valves124. While a particular configuration is shown, the valve operatingmechanism may have other configurations including those with fewer oradditional components.

The internal combustion engine may be a gasoline engine, a dieselengine, or the like. The internal combustion engine may be a dieselengine with a hydraulically activated electronically controlled unitinjection (HEUI) fuel system. The internal combustion engine may havesix, eight, or another number of cylinders. The internal combustionengine may have other components (not shown) such as a fuel injector foreach cylinder, pumps, an engine cooling system, and the like. Theinternal combustion engine may have multiple valve operating systems102, which may be combined to form a rocker arm assembly or the like.The internal combustion engine may have two or more valve operatingsystems 102 for each cylinder 128. The internal combustion engine mayhave one or more valve bridges 126; each connected to operate a set oflike valves, such as the inlet valves or the exhaust valves of acylinder, at substantially the same time.

During operation of the valve operating system 102, the rocker actuationmechanism 104 moves one end of the rocker arm 106 in an up-and-downmotion. This movement rotates the rocker arm 106 at the base 108, thusmoving the other end of the rocker arm 106 in the opposite direction.When the rocker actuation mechanism 104 moves one end of the rocker arm106 in an up direction, the other end of the rocker arm 106 presses theball and socket joint 110 against the valve activation device 112 toopen valve 124. When the rocker actuation mechanism 104 moves one end ofthe rocker arm 106 in a down direction, the other end of the rocker arm106 moves the ball and socket joint 110 away from the valve activationdevice 112 to close valve 124. Up-and-down motion includes side-to-sideand other opposite motion movements.

FIGS. 2-7 show various views of a ball and socket joint 210 and itscomponents. The ball and socket joint 210 has a ball portion 260, asocket portion 270, and retention device 280. The ball portion 260 isconfigured to rotate or move within the socket portion 270. Theretention device 280 holds the ball portion 260 and the socket portion270 together. The ball portion 260 may be connected to a rocker arm of avalve operating system. The socket portion 270 may be connected to avalve activation device of a valve operating system. The ball and socketjoint 210 may be made of metal, plastic, and the like, or a combinationthereof. The ball and socket joint 210 may be made of an elastomericmaterial.

The ball portion 260 has a pin extension 262, an interface surface 264,and a flange 266. The pin extension 262 is on a side opposite theinterface surface 264. The flange 266 extends radially along thecircumference of the ball portion 260 at a position between the pinextension 262 and the interface surface 264. The flange 260 may have acircular or angular shape. Circular includes circles, ovals, and likeshapes. Angular includes triangle, rectangle, and like shapes. The pinextension 262, the interface surface 264, and the flange 266 may havethe same centerline or different centerlines. The centerlines may beoff-center or at an angle to each other. The pin extension 262 may havea cylindrical, pyramidal, or conical configuration. The pin extension262 may be configured for insertion into a hole formed by a rocker armin a valve operating mechanism. The pin extension 262 may have a smallercross-section than the flange 266. The interface surface 264 may have acircular or other concave shape. The interface surface 264 may have thesame or a smaller cross-section than the flange 266.

The socket portion 270 forms a cavity 272 with an entrance or opening274 at one end. The socket portion 270 has a foot segment 276 thatextends radially from the exterior surface of the socket portion 270.The foot segment may be at or toward the end opposite the entrance 274.The cavity 272 is formed by an interior surface, which may have acircular or other convex surface. The cavity 272 may be configured toreceive the interface surface 264 of the ball portion 260. The surfaceof the cavity 272 may be configured to follow the pattern the interfacesurface 264. The socket portion 270 also forms an indentation or groove278 that runs along the exterior circumference of the socket portion 270between the entrance 274 and the foot segment 276. The socket portion270 may have a smaller cross-section at the exterior groove 278 than atthe entrance 274 to the cavity 272. The socket portion 270 also may havea smaller cross-section at the exterior groove 278 than at the footsegment 276.

The retention device 280 has a bridge segment 282 connecting a pinsegment 284 to a foot segment 286. The pin segment 284 and the footsegment 286 extend tangentially from the bridge segment 282.Tangentially includes partially or substantially tangent. The bridgesegment 282 may have a flat, curvilinear, wavy, or angular shape. Theretention device 280 may be made from spring steel or another malleablematerial. The retention device 280 also may be made from a thermoplasticor another semi-rigid or rigid material.

The pin segment 284 forms a pin loop 288. The cross-section of the pinloop 288 is greater than or equal to the cross-section of the pinextension 262. The cross-section of the pin loop 288 is less than thecross-section of the flange 266. The pin segment 284 may have a tailportion 292 that alters the direction of the pin segment 284.

The foot segment 286 forms a foot loop 290. The cross section of thefoot loop 290 may be greater than or equal to the cross-section of thesocket portion 270 at the exterior groove 278. The cross section of thefoot loop 290 may be less than the cross-section of the socket portion270 at the foot segment 276. The cross section of the foot loop 290 alsomay be less than the cross-section of the socket portion 270 at theentrance 274 to the cavity 272.

When assembled, the retention device 280 holds the ball portion 260 andthe socket portion 270 together with the interface surface 264positioned adjacent to the interior surface of the cavity 272. The pinextension 262 is positioned inside the pin loop 288 with the pin segment284 disposed adjacent to the flange 266 on the side opposite theinterface surface 264. The pin segment 284 may extend partially or fullyalong the circumference of the pin extension 262. The socket portion 270is positioned inside the foot loop 290 with the foot segment 286disposed within the exterior groove 278. The foot segment 286 may extendpartially or fully along the circumference of the socket portion 870 atthe exterior groove 278. The retention device 280 may be formed bybending and wrapping a wire or like material around the ball portion 260and the socket portion 270. The retention device 280 may be formed firstfor insertion of the ball portion 260 and socket portion 270 into theirpositions. The flange 266 of the ball portion 260 may have a smallercross-section than the foot loop 290 so that the ball portion 260 maypass through the foot loop 290 when the pin extension 262 is inserted inthe pin loop 288.

FIG. 8 shows another a ball and socket joint 810 having has a ballportion 860, a socket portion 870, and retention device 880. The ballportion 860 is configured to rotate or move within the socket portion870. The retention device 880 holds the ball portion 860 and the socketportion 870 together. The ball portion 860 may be connected to orinserted in a rocker arm in a valve operating system. The socket portion870 may be connected to a valve or valve bridge for a cylinder of aninternal combustion engine. The ball portion 860 is essentially the sameas the ball portion previously discussed. The ball portion 860 has a pinextension 862, an interface surface, and a flange 866. The socketportion 870 is essentially the same as the socket portion previouslydiscussed. The socket portion 870 forms a cavity with an entrance oropening 874 at one end and a foot segment 876 at the opposite end. Thesocket portion 870 also forms an exterior groove 878 between theentrance 874 and the foot segment 876. The retention device 880 isessentially the same as the retention device previously discussed exceptfor the pin segment. The retention device 880 has a bridge segment 882between a pin segment 884 and a foot segment 886. The foot segment 886forms a foot loop 890. The pin segment 884 forms a plurality of windingsaround the pin extension 862. A plurality of windings includes anynumber of windings and partial windings greater than about one winding.The plurality of windings form multiple pin loops, which may have thesame or different cross-sections. The multiple windings may create aspring-like or bias effect to hold the ball portion 860 against thesocket portion 870.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodimentsand implementations are possible within the scope of the invention.Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light ofthe attached claims and their equivalents.

1. A valve operating system for an internal combustion engine,comprising: a rocker arm; a rocker actuation mechanism connected to therocker arm; a ball and socket joint having a wire-like retention deviceconnected to a ball portion and a socket portion, wherein the socketportion has a foot extension, wherein the wire-like retention device ispositioned in a groove formed by the socket portion, wherein the ballportion is connected to the rocker arm; and a valve activation deviceconnected to the socket portion.
 2. The valve operating mechanism ofclaim 1, wherein the socket portion forms a cavity, wherein the valveactivation device is connected to the socket portion continuously alongan outer diameter of the foot extension, and wherein the socket portionforms the exterior groove between the foot extension and an entrance tothe cavity.
 3. The valve operating mechanism of claim 1, wherein theball portion has a flange between a pin extension and an interfacesurface.
 4. The valve operating mechanism of claim 1, wherein the ballportion has a pin extension inserted into a hole formed by the rockerarm.
 5. The valve operating mechanism of claim 1, wherein the ballportion has an interface surface, wherein the socket portion forms acavity with an interior surface, and wherein the interface surface ispositioned adjacent to the interior surface in the cavity.
 6. A ball andsocket joint for a valve operating system in an internal combustionengine, comprising: a ball portion having a flange between a pinextension and an interface surface; a socket portion having a footextension, wherein the socket portion forms a cavity with an interiorsurface, where the socket portion forms a groove between the footextension and an entrance to the cavity; and a wire-like retentiondevice having a pin segment connected to a foot segment, wherein the pinsegment forms a pin loop, wherein the foot segment forms a foot loop;wherein the interface surface is positioned adjacent to the interiorsurface in the cavity, wherein the pin extension is disposed in the pinloop, wherein the pin segment is adjacent to the flange, wherein thesocket portion is disposed in the foot loop, and wherein the footsegment is positioned in the groove.
 7. The ball and socket joint ofclaim 6, wherein the interface surface has a smaller cross-section thanthe flange.
 8. The ball and socket joint of claim 6, wherein the pinextension has a smaller cross-section than the flange.
 9. The ball andsocket joint of claim 6, wherein the pin loop has a smallercross-section than the flange.
 10. The ball and socket joint of claim 6,wherein the socket portion has a smaller cross-section at the exteriorgroove than at the foot extension.
 11. The ball and socket joint ofclaim 6, wherein the socket portion has a smaller cross-section at thegroove than at the entrance to the cavity.
 12. The ball and socket jointof claim 11, wherein the socket portion has a smaller cross-section atthe groove than at foot extension.
 13. The ball and socket joint ofclaim 11, wherein the foot segment extends partially along acircumference of the groove.
 14. The ball and socket joint of claim 5,wherein the pin segment extends partially along a circumference of thepin extension.
 15. The ball and socket joint of claim 6, wherein the pinsegment forms a plurality of windings around the pin extension.
 16. Aninternal combustion engine with a valve operating system, comprising: acylinder head mounted on a crankcase, wherein the cylinder head andcrankcase form a cylinder, wherein the cylinder head forms a valve pathconnected to the cylinder; a valve disposed within the valve path; arocker arm mounted on the cylinder head; a rocker actuation mechanismconnected to the rocker arm; a ball and socket joint having a wire-likeretention device connected to a ball portion and a socket portion,wherein the socket portion has a foot extension, wherein the wire-likeretention device is positioned in a groove formed by the socket portion,wherein the ball portion is connected to the rocker arm; and a valveactivation device connected to the socket portion, wherein the valveactivation device is connected to the valve.
 17. The internal combustionengine of claim 16, wherein the valve activation device is connected tothe socket portion continuously along an outer diameter of the footextension, wherein the socket portion forms a cavity, and wherein thesocket portion forms the exterior groove between the foot extension andan entrance to the cavity.
 18. The internal combustion engine of claim16, wherein the ball portion has a flange between a pin extension and aninterface surface, wherein the socket portion forms a cavity with aninterior surface, and wherein the interface surface is positionedadjacent to the interior surface in the cavity.
 19. The internalcombustion engine of claim 18, wherein the pin extension is insertedinto a hole formed by the rocker arm.
 20. The internal combustion engineof claim 16, wherein the valve is one of an inlet valve and an exhaustvalve.